Asia markets mostly slipped on Thursday following lower-than-expected Chinese inflation data while investors digested the conclusion of a three-day trade negotiation between the U.S. and China. Official Chinese inflation data for the month of December, released at the same time as market open in China, came in below expectations. The latest round of trade negotiations between the U.S. and China concluded on Wednesday after an unscheduled third day of talks.

Asian stocks were mostly lower on the first trading day of 2019, with one investor warning that it could be a "continuation" of 2018, a year which sent most major global stock markets reeling in significant losses. Chinese shares slipped on the day after a private survey showed manufacturing activity in China contracted in December. Shares in Asia were mostly lower on the first trading day of 2019, on the back of a turbulent 2018 that saw most major global stock exchanges end the year with significant losses.

ClearBridge Energy Midstream Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE: EMO or the “Fund”)) (formerly known as “ClearBridge Energy MLP Opportunity Fund Inc.”) today announced the completion of the merger of ClearBridge American Energy MLP Fund Inc. (CBA) with and into EMO. Effective after the close of business on Friday, November 16, 2018, CBA stockholders became EMO stockholders.

Stockholders of both CBA and EMO voted to approve the merger of CBA with and into EMO in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law. The merger is expected to be effective prior to the opening of business on November 19, 2018.

The U.S.-China trade war was in focus on Monday, with tariffs from both parties going into effect at 12.01 p.m. HK/SIN. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that China had called off planned trade talks with the U.S. following an escalation in tensions prompted by Washington's tariffs on Beijing. Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA-AU slid by 0.51 percent, while AMP's AMP-AU stock lost 1.24 percent.

With mortgage loans at 1.7 trillion Australian dollars ($1.2 trillion) in the country, the Reserve Bank of Australia's capacity to raise rates is limited, meaning that the Australian dollar will probably continue to weaken, he said. Australia banks are probably not a good buy for investors, with federal elections coming up and the country's currency set to weaken further, according to a banks analyst from investment group CLSA.

This column addresses a venerable subject: How payouts from investments are measured. Typically, such payouts are thought of as yield: the cash that securities currently generate. A successful purchase may increase its payouts over time, while an exceedingly poor one will default, thereby ceasing to produce any payments.

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2018 / Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTC PINK: CBA ) will be discussing their earnings results in their H2 Earnings Call to be held on August 8, 2018 at 11:00 AM ...

ClearBridge American Energy MLP Fund Inc. (CBA) and ClearBridge Energy MLP Opportunity Fund Inc. (EMO) today announced approval by each Fund’s Board of Directors of a proposal to merge CBA with and into EMO, subject to approval by the stockholders of each Fund. If the proposed merger is approved by the stockholders of each Fund, (i) common stockholders of CBA would receive common stock of EMO, based on each Fund’s respective net asset value per share and (ii) holders of CBA’s mandatory redeemable preferred stock (the “CBA MRPS”) would receive shares of mandatory redeemable preferred stock of EMO in the same number and with terms identical to their CBA MRPS.